Description
Creamy chicken mozzarella pasta brings Italian comfort to your dinner table with its rich, cheesy goodness. Melted mozzarella and tender chicken create a delightful symphony of flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound chicken tenderloins, sliced
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) penne pasta
- 4 ounces (113 grams) sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta cooking water
Instructions
- Cook penne pasta in boiling water until al dente, carefully setting aside 1/2 cup of starchy cooking liquid for later use.
- Delicately coat chicken slices with salt and paprika, ensuring even seasoning coverage.
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature, then sear chicken pieces until golden brown and thoroughly cooked, approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Introduce minced garlic and sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet, allowing aromatics to release their intense flavors for 1-2 minutes.
- Gently stream half-and-half into the pan, bringing the mixture to a soft, bubbling simmer.
- Gradually incorporate shredded mozzarella, stirring continuously until cheese melts into a velvety, smooth sauce.
- Combine cooked pasta with the creamy sauce, reserved pasta water, dried basil, red pepper flakes, and additional seasoning, tossing until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Transfer to serving plates and optionally garnish with fresh basil leaves for a vibrant finishing touch.
Notes
- Master the pasta cooking by saving some starchy water, which helps create a silky, clingy sauce that perfectly coats each pasta piece.
- Choose high-quality chicken breasts and slice them uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting red pepper flakes – a pinch for mild lovers, more for spice enthusiasts who crave a fiery kick.
- Transform this recipe into a vegetarian delight by substituting chicken with roasted zucchini or grilled portobello mushrooms for a protein-packed alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 560 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1180 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 44 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg